The main aim of our research is to provide an overview of what role language education
plays in how Hungarians living in diaspora communities preserve their cultural identity.
To this end we compared three Hungarian schools from three continents (North America,
South America and Australia), selected by a sampling based on geographical location.
We compared the similarities and differences between their educational methods according
to factors predetermined by the research group. By reviewing the extant, but limited
literature on this topic, the authors studied the present situation of Hungarians
living abroad and the actual questions of identity preservation with special regard
to language learning and preservation. These results present a detailed image of language
education within the Hungarian diaspora. We also compared the educational methodology
employed by the three schools based on different statistical data, such as the number
of students, their cohort, student motivation as well as the role of partner institutions
in the preservation of Hungarian identity. This study introduces the similarities
and differences among institutions located far from one another.
